*2023-24 ARKANSAS RAZORBACK BASKETBALL SEASON THREAD*

quote:

---

2. ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS

Highest projected finish: Second

Lowest projected finish: Seventh

Arkansas' projected starting lineup

G Devo Davis
G Khalif Battle
G Tramon Mark
F Trevon Brazile
C Makhi Mitchell
Pluses: Elite NCAA Tournament coach, NBA talent, depth at every single position, length, vicious defenders at every level.

Minuses: Who does this team belong to? Enough perimeter shooting? Enough creation? Role allocation concerns. Keyon Menifield a sneaky-big loss?

Outlook: Eric Musselman forces you to toss your priors out every offseason. Whatever you thought of Arkansas last year doesn't matter because this roster is just so different. Arkansas is acclimating eight newcomers and you could label Trevon Brazile as the ninth newbie because he's working back in after missing nearly the whole year with a knee injury last season.

That amount of roster turnover is a challenge for other programs, but a peaceful normal for Musselman. He's beyond earned the benefit of the doubt that somehow, some way, he will turn this group into a nasty unit.

Brazile being awesome is the recipe for Arkansas to have a special season that ends with banners. The 6-foot-10 forward is the best NBA prospect on the roster, and he can be a truly special player. Remember, he eviscerated both Creighton and San Diego State – two of the best defenses in the country – at the Maui Invitational last November. Injuries have forced Brazile to play just 34 games in his first two seasons of college basketball, but a smooth shotmaker who can baptize opponents at the rim is a complete game-wrecker for what Arkansas could be. There will be bumpy, growing pains, but Brazile can be as good as his body allows him to be.

Brazile is as valuable as any player on this roster because he can do what few can.

But Arkansas' depth everywhere else is spectacular and a big reason why the Hogs are an SEC heavyweight. You want guards? Arkansas has 'em in spades. Devo Davis is back after putting Arkansas on his back in March. Mussleman reshaped his backcourt with Tramon Mark (from Houston), Khalif Battle (from Temple), El Ellis (from Louisville) and four-star freshman Layden Blocker. Kelvin Sampson and the Houston staff were none to pleased to lose Mark who is one of the best defenders in the country and can go get a bucket on a dime. Battle gives Musselman another big guard who can create his own offense. He is hands-down the most-proven shooter on the roster (although sophomore Joseph Pinion can stroke it, too). Louisville was a complete disaster, but Ellis gives Arkansas some semblance of true point guard play who can break a defense down and create offense. Can he do it efficiently? TBD.

In the frontcourt, Cincinnati transfer Jeremiah Davenport is another veteran who can knock down catch-and-shoot 3-pointers – which was a fatal flaw for Arkansas last year – and guard multiple positions. Arkansas can trot out some big lineups with Davenport at the 3 or slide him to the 4 to get more ball-handlers on the floor. Makhi Mitchell is an imposing, burly center who was great at protecting the rim and hammering the glass. When Arkansas needs to rely on its depth, Memphis transfer Chandler Lawson is a blur of arms, legs and deflections who profiles as a perfect scheme fit for everything Arkansas asks of its forwards, and top-30 freshman Baye Fall is another fantastic defensive prospect. Veteran Jalen Graham might be the best post-up scorer on the team.

Arkansas has enough depth already and that's without Keyon Menifield, a Washington transfer, who could have been a huge piece of this team.

There's just not enough minutes for everyone to get the role they might have wanted. Sacrifices will have to be made, and feelings might get hurt in the process.

But that's where Musselman comes into play ... again. His ability to find a matchup and target it for 40 minutes can keep morale buzzing because it, truly, could be anyone's chance to be the alpha on any given night. There will be nights when Battle is cooking because he has the advantageous matchup. Or Davis. Or Mark. Or Ellis. Or Brazile. Or Graham.

Musselman has also built three straight top-20 defenses. This roster is built to sit down and guard. Davis and Mark are switchy, perimeter defenders. Brazile and Mitchell can provide real rim protection. Arkansas is big, strong and deep all across the board.

As long as egos are put aside, Arkansas can be a big ole problem again.

---